Collapsible display device



Jan. 1o, 1928 1,655,593

E. O. BU L MAN COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Dec. 28. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. O. BULMAN GOLIJAPSIBLEl DISPLAY DEVICE Jan. 10,1928.

Filed DSC. 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented dan., l0, 1928.

UNITED 1,655,593 rarest orifices.

nnvnn o. enteran, on cfr-nani) Resins, MICHIGAN.

COLLAPSIBLE :DISPLAY DEVICE.

Jl'rpplicaton `filed December 2S, l92.v Serial lila. ?S,O9.

.This invention relates to display rack and in itsy specific adaptationit is to be used for holding and displayingbrooms. The rack structureitself, particularly in the featuresV of construction whereby it may be manufactured and shipped in disassembled and'knock down form and readily assembled f when it reaches its destination without the useA of tools7 is useful in connection with many types of racks, whether to hold brooms hold articles of merchandise for display;

A further object of the invention is to construct a rack particularly adapted for the display of brooms r ike devices, a novel means being used whereby the brooms are supported and held against detachment from the rack. it still further object of the invention is to construct a rack with end frames and upper and lower horizontal 1 connecting frames between the end framesy which are detachably connected tothe end frames in a novel manner, the same being very quickly assembled or disassembled and when once assembled making a rigid and serviceable rackfor the purposes for which it is to be used.` These and various other objects and purposes together withvnovel constructions and arrangements and combinations of parts for attaining the same, will be apparent as understanding of the invention is had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig.l l is a perspective view of the complete assembled rack. Y s

Fig. 2, is a perspective view` showing the parts of the rack disassembled and separated from each other.

Fig. Sjis an enlarged perspective view of one end of the assembled rack, and7 Fig. et is a fragmentary perspective showing the manner` in which the horizontal frames between the end supporting frames may be connected to and disconnected there from.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

vIn the construction of the rack, two ver .flanges l are cut away at ir mes are isc an as ie sam tical end t a i d d tl e are of identical construction,` a description of one will suiiice for both. VThe end frames include spaced apart vertical legs of angle iron having inwardly extending flanges l and side flanges 2 asshown. The the lower ends of the legs while the yflanges 2 are formed intol feet 3 with a connecting bar 4lextending be'- tween.A That is, this part of each end frame is made from av singley length of angle iron an intermediate portion of one ilange which being removed so as to permit the formation of the connecting bar and feet 3 from the intermediate portion of the other flange 2 remaining. The upper ends of the vertical side members of the endy frame are connected` by a bar 5 of flat metal having downturned short legs 6 which lie against the inner sides of flanges land are spot welded thereto. A short distance below the upper end of each of the vertical side members of the frame and a short distance above the lower end thereof,y spring clips of metal are permanently secured to the inwardly extending flanges l, as shown. Y l l It is designed that upperand lower'hori- `zontal frames are toy be located between the end frames of the rack.. The upper frame ismade from flat metal having parallel sides V8 connected by parallel ends 9 and; the width-of the frame isy such that it/is received between the side flanges 2 of the ver# tical side'k members of the end frames, the bars 9, adjacent their ends, being connected with the retainingclips 7 withwhich they are readily connected and from which they may be very easily disconnected forv removal'. K f

Adjacent each end of the upper frame,A a wireor smally red l0 is located, thesarmel at each end being termed into a loop or eye ll passing through suitable openings in the opposed sides 8 of the frame.- 'lhis wire or rod lOis formed with a series of spaced apart outwardly kbent loops'or scallops l2 between which sections l13 of the wire lO'are left. The rod or wire isy spaced a short distance fromv each end 9y and the loops l2 are bent toward and Contact substantially with Vthe inner side of the adjacent end 9 of Ythe frame7 as best shown in Fig. 3.'. Also intermediate the ends of the upper frame two of thesev wires or rods l0, similarly formed with spaced apart `bent loops l2 with connecting sections 13 between them, are located side by side, the middle portions of the loops 12 of the two wires being in contact. These intermediate wires are con nected to the sides 8 of the upper frame in the same manner. One or more pairs of the wires 10 may be disposed between the ends of the upper frame though, as shown, but one pair is illustrated. It is evident, however, that the number may be increased if it is desirable.

rlhe lower frame is substantially identical with the upper frame, having side bars 8a and ends 9u. rlhis lower frame is adapted to be connected with the lower clips 7 in the i same manner that the upper frame is connected with the upper clips. The lower frame is also equipped with the, same loop or scalloped wire or rod 10 at each end and with a pair of the same between its ends. In

' the lower frame, underneath said looped or scalloped wires 10, at each end of the frame and underneath the pair oit wires intermediate the ends of the frame, a horizontal cross bar 14C is disposed having its ends turned upwardly against the inner sides of the side bars 8a and spot welded thereto.

Each of the side bars 8a of the lower frame is equipped with two headed pins 15 located a distance inward from each end thereof. A diagonally disposed brace 16 is pivotally connected at its upper end at 17 to each of the flanges 2 of the four vertical legs or corner posts of the frame. rEhe opposite free end of each member 16 is formed with a` transverse slot 18 extending partly across the member making, in effect, a hook to detachably engage with a headed pin 15 as shown in Fig. 3. When thus connected the frame is braced against distortion and isrigid and permanent in eifect. t is apparent, however, that by disconnecting the brace members 16 from the pins 15, both the upper and lower frames may be readily disconnected from the clips 7 and the rack packed in small compass, this being a feature of value in shipping the same from the factory to the place of use.

A rack as thus constructed is particularly desirable for `holding and displaying brooms,`

the handles of the same, as indicated at 19 in Fig. 1, resting at their lower ends on the bars 1st and passing between the loops 12 of the wires 10, at the ends of the raclr being retained from disconnection by the end bars 9 of the horizontal trame members of the rack, and intermediate the ends of the racl; being held by the enclosures formed by the sections 13 located between the loops or scallops 12.

A construction of the character described is simple and economical to make from a, manufacturing standpoint, may be shipped readily and occupies comparatively little space and when it reaches its destination may be very quickly and easily assembled without the tools of any character. The rack is rigid, strong and durable when in use. Many variations in detail of construction may be resorted to without departing from the invention dened in the appended claims, and the invention is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within the scope of said claims.

I claim:

1. In a rack, vertical spaced apart ends, open horizontal upper and lower frames lo cated between and connected to said ends, bars horizontally disposed across and lying between the sides of the lower frame, one of said bars being located adjacent each end of the frame, a member disposed across the lower frame at each end thereof over said bar and connected at its ends to the sides of the frame, said member being provided with a plurality of spaced apart loops bent toward and coming into close proximity to the adjacent end of the horizontal frame, and a likel member disposed across and connected in like manner to the upper frame at each end thereof, directly over the irst of said members substantially as described.

2. A raclr comprising spaced apart vertical ends, upper and lower open rectangular frames located between said ends, a horizon-4 tal 1nar disposed between and connected at its ends to the sides ofthe lower frame near each end thereof, a wire member disposed between and connected at its ends to the sides of the lower frame at each end thereof, said wire member being formed into a plurality of spaced apart loops, the bends of which lie closely ladjacent the adjacent end of the lower frame, and a like wire member similarly disposed between the sides of the upper frame each end thereof directly over the first wire member, substantially as described.

3. A rack, comprising spaced apart ends, upper and lower horizontal side bars disposed horizontally between said ends at each vertical side thereof, cross bars located between the lower horizontal bars and connected thereto, guiding and holding means located between and connected to said upper horizontal bars at a plurality of points between said ends ofthe rack, and additional guiding and holding means located between said lower horizontal side bars directly under the upper guiding means and over said cross bars, said guide and holding means being adapted t0 receive and hold an elongated article with its lower end bearing against said cross bars, substantially as described.

ln testimony whereof I afdx my signature.

nnvitn o. BULMAN.. 

